late onset group b strep info

Late Onset Group B Strep affects approximately 1 out of every 20,000 babies from age 7 days to about 3 months. Eighty percent (80%) occur in the first 2 months. 5% of those babies will die (approximately 65 per year).

With the advent of Early Onset GBS prevention measures, the rate of LOGBS has remained unchanged.

A baby can become colonized from their environment or caregivers (50%) or some can become colonized from their mother during delivery (50%). Some become infected when bacteria produces toxins or destroys cells. Some become colonized and never get sick.

Usually Serotype III is the cause of LOGBS.

Babies most at risk have the following factors:

Premature (<36 weeks) or very low birth weight

Have intravascular plastic catheters or Ivs

Have had unnecessary antibiotics (may select for resistant strains)

Hospitalized for a prolonged period of time

Exposed to contaminated equipment

Meconium staining (suggests heavy maternal colonization)

Lack of IgG antibodies

Symptoms usually present as:

Sepsis (blood infection)

Pneumonia (lung infection)

Meningitis (infection of the fluid/membranes around the brain and spinal column)

Osteomyelitis (bone infection)

Septic Arthritis (joint infection)

Signs that your baby may be sick:

Grunting

Pale/gray skin

Fever (usually short)

Stops feeding

Throwing up

Impaired consciousness

Listless or floppy body

Meningitis-specific signs:

High pitched cry

Shrill moaning or whimpering

Fever (cold hands & feet)

Refuses to eat

Dislikes being held

Throwing up

Tense or bulgy soft spot

Body stiffening or jerking (seizures)

Floppy body

Blank stare or trance

Sleeping too much

Fast or slow breathing

Pale, blotchy skin

Long Term Effects can include:

DEATH (5%)

Lasting neurologic damage (30%)

Cerebral palsy

Sight and hearing loss

Mental retardation

Developmental delays (26%)

Ways to prevent LOGBS:

Correct handwashing!

Don’t have long nails or artificial nails

Don’t wear jewelry or keep it VERY clean

Breastfeed

Know the symptoms and act on them quickly

Trackbacks

[…] a girl who wrote in to the GBS group with an almost identical story as Charlie’s, as most late onset Group B Strep stories are. We’ve been emailing back and forth this week and she has had some wonderful […]